Earning the Love of a Princess-Chapter 290: Violet: Nothing Special

"Like me..." Violet whispered mostly to herself.

To hear the man describe her as just another dish at his banquet when she’d tried so, so hard to set herself apart, wasn’t just embarrassing.

It was devastating.

She was a dish he’d already tasted too, so why would he go back for more?

Leo’s keen ears still heard her. "Aye, like you. I mean, I appreciate what you’ve done, Lady Violet. It was all very pleasurable. But you can’t seriously expect more from me. I mean, I’ve already given you enough memories to last a lifetime, haven’t I?"

Memories to last a lifetime? Was he being serious?

Oh, the arrogance of him. If I had a knife, I’d cut out his black, unfeeling heart from his body right now, Violet thought as rage and despair began throbbing through her.

She heard the prince snort. "Oh fuck. Don’t do that."

"Don’t do what?"

"Don’t try and guilt me by giving me one of those shocked, hurt faces. Let’s not pretend this was anything more than it actually was, Violet."

"What’s that supposed to mean?" she snapped.

"It means we both got something we wanted out of our trysts, so be content with that. I was never going to offer you more, no matter what lies you spun or how in love with me you claim to be." The prince shook his head.

"But my lord, I never lied! I’ve been nothing but honest about my feelings for you-"

Leo interrupted her plea with another yawn. "Save your breath. You’re in love with me about as much as I am with you. Which is to say, not at all. You think I couldn’t see your intentions?"

"What intentions?"

"For fuck’s sake. You think you’re the only woman who’s ever tried to weasel herself into my bed because of my title?"

Violet swallowed thickly, her belly suddenly feeling clammy and nauseous. She could only gape at him.

How long ago had he seen through her act?

"Your greed is nothing I haven’t had to deal with before. Your ambition is nothing special." he glared down at her. "Everyone desires the crown on the Crown Prince. But none of you wenches give a single fuck about the man beneath the crown. None of you but Ilse, that is." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

I think the prince is actually a clever soul.

She remembered Ilse’s sweet voice once saying that to her. Violet had of course scoffed.

Now she realised Ilse had been the wiser sister all along and Violet had severely underestimated her opposition.

It looked like she’d been outwitted by the two people she’d always dismissed as malleable simpletons.

"That’s not true. I care deeply about you..." her voice trailed off lamely as she saw Leo’s hard expression.

"Drop the act. It’s embarrassing."

Oh lord. He doesn’t believe a single word I’m saying.

She wanted to curl up in a humiliated little ball. She wanted to lash out at him.

So she let herself hit back.

"And what makes you think Ilse is any better?" Violet asked in a poisonous hiss. "Don’t you realise she’s using you in the same way you’re accusing me of?"

If I can’t have the prize myself, then neither can she. If I can’t win, then I need to see her lose as well!

Violet stared up at the prince defiantly.

"You’re so fucking pathetic, slandering your own flesh and blood this way. Ilse is different to the rest of you. She doesn’t have an unkind thought in her mind. She cares for me as a man. She’s not like the rest of you false tongued bitches." He blinked and then chuckled. "Then again, you bitches and your tongues serve your purpose well enough. I’ll never forget the look on your face and the sound of your moans as you stroked yourself wet with your own fingers, Lady Violet. Thank you for such a delightful memory."

Violet felt her very bones crumple with horror at those words. Then she turned and fled.

She knew if she looked at the bastard’s insufferable face a moment longer, she’d fly at him and strike the smile from his face.

Violet ran and ran, trying to escape the ugly truth of his words. All she could do as she ran was fight back her nausea so that she didn’t end up vomiting in some dark corridor.

She didn’t stop running until she reached the western wing and stood outside her bedchamber door. Her lungs burning and belly still churning with bile, Violet pressed her forehead against the smooth door leaf.

She couldn’t stand in a corridor forever. There was nothing left for her to do but eventually slip into her bedchamber and back into the shared bed. So she did.

Ilse was still facing the wall, deep in her peaceful slumber and oblivious to the turmoil surrounding her.

Violet curled herself up into a tight ball under the blanket, wrapping her arms around her shaking frame and blinking her dry eyes. She was too shocked to even weep. Her teeth were clenched against the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Now what?

Oh my lord, now what?

What else? Your watch your better half take her rightful place as the lady of Prince Leo’s heart and future Queen of Islia, her mind purred. You watch as the entire country bends the knee to her and your parents trip over themselves to praise their favourite daughter.

Everyone gets their heart’s desire. Except for you.

- - -

The following morning, Violet cracked open her eyes and squinted against the weak light. She lay there, puzzled for a moment after a broken night of sleep.

Then the memories from the night before started flooding her mind. She remembered how Leo had ignored her pleas and left her in no doubt that things between them were over.

How he’d taunted and humiliated her.

The nausea began churning through her again in waves.

In a panic, Violet kicked off the blanket and stumbled to her feet, clapping a hand over her mouth. She’d only just made it across the room before the sourness of hot bile rose in her throat.

She retched, then started to heave uncontrollably into an empty chamber pot. Violet felt herself sinking to her knees as the muscles in her belly clenched and spasmed painfully. Her eyes streamed.

When her belly was finally empty and she was slack with exhaustion, Violet looked up. She saw Ilse was sitting up in the bed, watching her with a question in her eyes.

"I’ve been feeling sick since I ate the spiced lamb at dinner last night." Violet mumbled in explanation. She couldn’t tell her sister the truth - that remembering how Prince Leo had spurned her, was making her physically ill.

"That’s odd." Ilse replied. "Because I ate the lamb too and I feel fine-"

"Well then, I guess you can stomach it better than me!" Violet snarled. "Just like you can do every single other goddamn thing in life better than me! Does knowing that make you happy?"

"What? What are you talking about, Violet? You sound delirious. Are you running a fever too?"

Violet pushed herself up from the floor and staggered to her feet. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she glared at Ilse. "I’ll be fine. Just let me be."

Ilse nodded curtly and rose from the bed. Without another word, she started preparing herself for the day. Violet sat down on the bed and watched as her sister started washing with a bucket of water drawn from one of the wells the day before.

Ilse tugged on a fresh chemise and a dress made from glittering pale brocade. Once she’d finished with her hair and fastening her gold hoop earrings, she turned to Violet and said, "I’ll let Her Majesty know you’ve taken ill and may not be able to join the others in her apartments today."

Violet barely heard her. She was too busy staring at the beautiful silver gown. Her belly started churning again, even though it was empty.

"Violet? Are you listening?"

"Mother wouldn’t like you dressing that way. If she could see you now, she’d say you look like a strumpet." Violet finally said.

Ilse’s jaw dropped. "That’s what you have to say to me?"

"Well, it’s true! All you’re doing by prancing around in that gown is announcing yourself to the world as the prince’s latest plaything." Violet couldn’t help letting the ugly bitterness brewing in her soul, spill out from her lips.

"Honestly, sometimes I ask myself if you’re even capable of feeling happiness." Ilse shook her head. "Why you’re always so sour about everything, I’ll never know."

"Why shouldn’t I care about the careless way you treat your reputation, given how it reflects on me?"

To Violet’s surprise, that made her twin laugh. "Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. You’ve done a great job of making yourself known to everyone here as a sullen, stuck up woman. You don’t need my help ruining your own reputation."

Violet sucked in a sharp breath.

Ilse opened the bedchamber door, the paused to look back at her sister one last time. There was genuine pity on her face. "You know what? I’m not sorry I came to court. I’m only sorry you did, Violet. Because something about this place has turned you into an utter bitch and I don’t know why."

Violet flinched at the sound of the door slamming shut.

Don’t waste your energy pitying me, sister. My loss will be your loss too. You’ll see.